EJ Obiena, Athletics
EJ Obiena was born on November 17, 1995, in Manila, Philippines. In 2014, he caught the attention of Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka and began training in Italy under coach Vitaly Petrov, who was also Bubka’s coach. Obiena is the first Filipino to receive a scholarship from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
This young athlete has achieved numerous successes in international competitions, including gold medals at the 2019 Asian Championships and 2019 Summer Universiade, and a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships, becoming the first Filipino to win a medal in this event. In 2023, Obiena set an Asian record of 6 meters in Norway and is currently ranked second in the world.
Read More: EJ Obiena Achievements & Competitors
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Career Achievements
- Silver medal at the 2023 Budapest World Championships
- Gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games
- Bronze medal at the 2022 Eugene World Championships
- Gold medal at the 2019 Naples Summer Universiade
- 2 gold medals (2019, 2023) and 1 bronze medal (2017) at the Asian Championships
- 3 gold medals (2019, 2021, 2023) and 1 silver medal (2015) at the Southeast Asian Games
- Asian record holder with 6 meters
Carlos Yulo, Gymnastics
Carlos Edriel Poquiz Yulo was born on February 16, 2000, in Manila, Philippines. Carlos Yulo began gymnastics training at the age of 7 and joined the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines with his grandfather’s encouragement. While attending Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School, Yulo already represented the National Capital Region in the Philippine National Games. In 2016, he received a scholarship from the Japanese Olympic Association to train in Japan.
This young athlete has achieved numerous successes in international competitions. In 2018, he won a bronze medal at the Doha World Championships, becoming the first Filipino and Southeast Asian male gymnast to win a medal at the World Championships. In 2019, he won a gold medal in the floor exercise at the Stuttgart World Championships, making history as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian gymnast to become a world champion. In 2021, he won another gold and a silver at the Kitakyushu World Championships.
Carlos Yulo Wins Double Gold Medals at 2024 Paris Olympics
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2024 Olympics Preview: Carlos Yulo and Three Teammates
Career Achievements
- 2 World Championships gold medals (2019 floor exercise, 2021 vault)
- 2 World Championships silver medals (2021 parallel bars, 2022 vault)
- 2 World Championships bronze medals (2018 floor exercise, 2022 parallel bars)
- 10 Asian Championships gold medals
- 9 Southeast Asian Games gold medals
- 4th place in vault at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Aleah Finnegan, Gymnastics
Aleah Finnegan Cruz was born on January 4, 2003, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, to a Filipino mother. Her two sisters, Sarah and Hannah, are also gymnasts, representing the United States and the Philippines, respectively. Finnegan began practicing gymnastics in 2005, and in 2008, her family moved to Kansas City, where she trained at Great American Gymnastics Express.
Career Achievements
Representing the United States:
- Gold medal in the team event at the 2019 Pan American Games
Representing the Philippines:
- Gold medal in the team event, silver medal in the all-around, gold medal in vault, and silver medal on the balance beam at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games
- Bronze medals on vault and balance beam at the 2023 Asian Championships
- Qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first Filipina gymnast to achieve this feat since 1964
Eumir Marcial, Boxing
Eumir Felix de los Santos Marcial was born on October 29, 1995, in Lunzuran, Zamboanga City, Philippines. He began boxing training with his father at the age of 7 and showed extraordinary talent during his teenage years. In 2011, just three years after starting his training, he won the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Junior World Championships. In 2013, he was named the Best Asian Youth Boxer of the Year.
Career Achievements
- Gold medal at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games
- Silver medal in the middleweight division at the 2019 World Championships
- Bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the first Olympic medal for a Filipino boxer since 1992
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Nesthy Petecio, Boxing
Nesthy “Nesh” Alcayde Petecio was born on April 11, 1992, in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, Philippines, into a poor farming family. To help support the family, Petecio and her siblings started working on the farm from a young age, even selling fertilizer to earn money. Boxing provided her with an opportunity to escape poverty and pursue higher education.
At the age of 11, Petecio participated in a boxing match in Davao City. Despite her opponent being a larger and more experienced boy, she won the match and caught the attention of a coach. This opened the door for her to join the Philippine women’s boxing team.
Career Achievements
- Silver medal in the women’s featherweight division at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal in boxing
- Gold medal in the featherweight division at the 2019 Ulan-Ude World Championships
- Silver medal in the featherweight division at the 2014 Jeju World Championships
- 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at the Asian Championships
- 2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games
Aira Villegas, Boxing
Aira Villegas was born on August 1, 1995, in Tacloban City, Philippines. She is an amateur female boxer who fights left-handed in the flyweight division.
This young athlete has gained valuable experience in international competitions such as the Asian Games and World Championships, and she won a bronze medal in the women’s flyweight division at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. In 2024, she qualified for the Paris Olympics.
Career Achievements
- Bronze medal in the women’s flyweight division at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games
- Nominated by the Philippine Olympic Committee in 2021 as a beneficiary of the International Olympic Committee’s “Olympic Solidarity Scholarship”
- Represented the Philippines at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games
John Ceniza, Weightlifting
John Febuar Ceniza was born on February 7, 1998, in Cebu City, Philippines. He is a male weightlifter who studies at the University of Cebu and represents the university in competitions.
This young and promising athlete has achieved remarkable results in major weightlifting competitions, especially in 2023. He won gold at the Southeast Asian Games and bronze at the Asian Championships while setting multiple Philippine weightlifting records. He has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Career Achievements
- Silver medal in the men’s 55kg category at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games
- Bronze medal in the men’s 61kg category at the 2020 Rome Weightlifting World Cup
- Gold medal in the men’s 61kg category at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games
- Set Philippine records in the men’s 61kg category for snatch (131kg), clean and jerk (169kg), and total (297kg) in 2023
Elreen Ando, Weightlifting
Elreen Ann Quinilitan Ando was born on November 1, 1998, in Carreta, Cebu City, Philippines. She is a female weightlifter who was discovered by coaches Garry Toleno and former Olympian Ramon Solis while studying at the University of Cebu, where she received an athletic scholarship.
This young and talented athlete has achieved remarkable results in international competitions, including winning 3 medals (bronze in snatch, silver in clean and jerk, and silver in total) at the 2020 Asian Championships, finishing 7th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while setting personal records, and qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics through the Olympic ranking to represent the Philippines in the 59kg category.
Career achievements
- Bronze medal in the -64kg category at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games
- 2 silver and 1 bronze medal in the -64kg category at the 2020 Tashkent Asian Championships
- Bronze medal in the -59kg category at the 2024 Tashkent Asian Championships
- Gold medal in the -59kg category at the 2023 Cambodia Southeast Asian Games
- Gold medal in the -64kg category at the 2021 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games
- Silver medal in the -64kg category at the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asian Games
Vanessa Sarno, Weightlifting
Vanessa Palomar Sarno was born on September 28, 2003, in Bohol, Philippines. She is a female weightlifter who comes from a family of fishermen and is the second of four children. Influenced by her father, Sarno began weightlifting training at the age of 9 and practiced with her cousins at a local gym in her hometown.
This young athlete has excelled in international competitions, winning multiple medals for the Philippines. In 2019, she won two gold medals and one silver at the Asian Youth and Junior Championships held in North Korea. In 2020, she won three gold medals at the IWF Online World Youth Championships hosted by Peru. In 2021, Sarno won the gold medal in the -71kg category at the Tashkent Asian Championships and is considered the successor to Filipino Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.
Career Achievements
- Gold medal in the -71kg category, silver medal in snatch, and gold medal in clean and jerk at the 2020 Tashkent Asian Championships
- Silver medal in the -71kg category at the 2023 Jinju Asian Championships
- Gold medal in the -71kg category at the 2021 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games
- Gold medal in the -71kg category at the 2023 Cambodia Southeast Asian Games
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Sam Catantan, Fencing
Sam Catantan was born on February 1, 2002, in the Philippines. Her three sisters are also fencers, two of whom have been selected for the national team. At the age of 9, Catantan started fencing under the Quezon City Sports Enhancement Program.
This young athlete has won multiple medals for the Philippines in international competitions. In 2019, she won gold at the Asian U23 Fencing Championships held in Bangkok. In 2021, Catantan won the individual gold medal at the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games. In 2024, she qualified for the Paris Olympics, becoming the first Filipino fencer to do so since 1992.
Career Achievements
- Individual gold medal in women’s épée at the 2021 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games
- Individual bronze medal in women’s épée at the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asian Games
- Individual gold medal in women’s épée at the 2019 Thailand Asian U23 Fencing Championships
Levi Ruivivar, Gymnastics
Levi Ruivivar was born on May 3, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, USA, to actor parents Anthony Ruivivar and Yvonne Jung. She began practicing gymnastics at 18 months old.
Ruivivar represented the United States from 2021 to 2023 before announcing her switch to represent the Philippines in September 2023. In November of the same year, she signed a National Letter of Intent with Stanford University, planning to join their gymnastics team in 2025. In 2024, Ruivivar showcased her skills at the World Cup series and Asian Championships, securing her spot at the Olympic Games and becoming the third Filipino gymnast to do so after Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.
Career Achievements
- Bronze medal on uneven bars at the 2024 Tashkent Asian Championships
- Silver medal on uneven bars at the 2024 Doha World Cup
- All-around champion at the 2018 French International Championships
Joanie Delgaco, Rowing
Joanie Delgaco was born on March 1, 1998, and is a rower from Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines. In 2015, she was selected for the Philippine national team.
Delgaco has won multiple medals for the Philippines at the Southeast Asian Games, including a gold medal in the lightweight double sculls in 2019 and three medals in 2021. In 2023, she won gold with her partner at the Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships and represented the Philippines at the Challenge the Limits Games. In the same year, Delgaco secured her spot at the Paris Olympics through the Asian & Oceania Qualification Regatta, becoming the first Filipino female rower to qualify for the Olympics.
Career Achievements
- Gold medal in the lightweight double sculls at the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asian Games
- Three medals at the 2021 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games
- Gold medal in the mixed double sculls at the 2023 Pattaya Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships
Emma Malabuyo, Gymnastics
Emma Malabuyo was born on November 5, 2002, in Mountain View, California, USA, to parents Joel and Ana Malabuyo. She began practicing gymnastics under her father’s influence.
Malabuyo represented the United States from 2019 to 2021 before announcing her switch to represent the Philippines in 2023. In the same year, she won a silver medal in the floor exercise at the Asian Championships, setting the best result for a Filipina gymnast in this event. In 2024, Malabuyo won bronze in the all-around at the Asian Championships, securing her spot at the Paris Olympics.
Career Achievements
- Gold medal in the floor exercise at the 2024 Tashkent Asian Championships
- Bronze medal in the all-around at the 2024 Tashkent Asian Championships
- Silver medal in the floor exercise at the 2023 Singapore Asian Championships
Carlo Paalam, Boxing
Carlo Paalam was born on July 16, 1998, in Talakag, Bukidnon, Philippines, and spent part of his childhood in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental. At the age of 7, he won his first boxing match and used the prize money to buy rice for his family.
In 2009, Paalam was scouted and entered the boxing training program in Cagayan de Oro City. In 2013, he joined the Philippine national team and began competing in international tournaments. In 2019, Paalam won his first gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games hosted by the Philippines. In 2021, he won a silver medal in the men’s flyweight division at the Tokyo Olympics, securing a valuable medal for the Philippine boxing team.
Career Achievements
- Silver medal in the men’s flyweight division at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
- Gold medal in the men’s flyweight division at the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asian Games
- Bronze medal in the men’s flyweight division at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games
- Gold medal in the men’s flyweight division at the 2022 Amman Asian Championships
Hergie Bacyadan, Boxing
Hergie Bacyadan was born on November 4, 1994, in Quezon City, Philippines, with her hometown being Tanudan, Kalinga. She is an Igorot and a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Bacyadan was previously a practitioner of wushu and vovinam. In 2016, she was first selected for the Philippine national wushu team. In 2017, she won two consecutive silver medals at the World Wushu Championships and the Sanda Asian Cup. In 2023, Bacyadan switched to vovinam and became the Philippines’ first vovinam world champion at the World Championships, also winning gold at the Southeast Asian Games. In the same year, she secured her spot in the boxing event at the Paris Olympics by winning the World Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Career Achievements
- Gold medal in the women’s 66kg category at the 2023 Vovinam World Championships, becoming the Philippines’ first vovinam world champion
- Gold medal in the women’s 65kg category in vovinam at the 2023 Cambodia Southeast Asian Games
- Silver medal in the women’s 65kg category at the 2017 World Wushu Championships
Bianca Pagdanganan, Golf
During her amateur career, Pagdanganan had already won medals for the Philippines at the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games. After turning professional in January 2020, she earned her LPGA Tour card through the LPGA Qualifying Tournament. As a professional golfer, Pagdanganan has showcased her skills on the LPGA Tour.
Career Achievements
- Bronze medal in the women’s individual event and gold medal in the team event at the 2018 Asian Games
- Gold medals in the women’s individual and team events at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games
- Champion at the 2017 Philippine Ladies Open
- Earned LPGA Tour card in 2019
Dottie Ardina, Golf
Dottie Ardina was born on December 2, 1993, in the Philippines and turned professional in 2013. Even during her amateur days, she had represented the Philippines at the Espirito Santo Trophy (World Amateur Team Championships) in 2006 and 2010.
After turning professional, Ardina has competed in various tours, including the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, and WPGA Tour of Australasia, winning titles in each. In 2022, she won the Copper Rock Championship on the Epson Tour, her first victory on that tour. With her outstanding performances, this Filipino golfer has made a name for herself on the international golf scene.
Career Achievements
- Champion at the 2022 Copper Rock Championship (Epson Tour)
- Champion at the 2020 Ballarat Icons Pro-Am (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
- Champion at the 2014 3rd Singha-SAT Thai LPGA Championship (Thai LPGA Tour)
- Multiple appearances representing the Philippines at the Espirito Santo Trophy
Kiyomi Watanabe, Judo
Kiyomi Watanabe was born on August 25, 1996, to a Filipino mother and a Japanese father. At the age of 8, she moved with her family to Japan. In 2011, Watanabe began representing the Philippines in international competitions.
This Filipino-Japanese judoka has won multiple medals for the Philippines, including a silver at the 2018 Asian Games and a bronze at the 2017 Paris Grand Slam. In 2020, she qualified for the Tokyo Olympics but was defeated by a Spanish opponent in the first round, failing to advance. In Japanese domestic competitions, Watanabe has also secured several championship titles.
Career Achievements
- Silver medal in the women’s 63kg category at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games
- Bronze medal in the women’s 63kg category at the 2017 Paris Grand Slam
- Gold medal in the women’s 63kg category at the 2014 Hong Kong Asian Junior Championships
- Competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Kayla Sanchez, Swimming
Kayla Sanchez was born on April 7, 2001, in Singapore to Filipino parents who were working overseas. She was a member of the Canadian national team, representing Canada at the Olympic Games and World Championships, where she won two Olympic medals.
In July 2022, the Philippine Swimming Association announced that Sanchez would start representing the Philippines. In July 2023, her sporting nationality change was officially approved. In the same year, she made her debut as a Filipino swimmer at the 2022 Asian Games. By the end of 2023, the International Olympic Committee waived Sanchez’s residency requirement, making her eligible to represent the Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Career Achievements
- Two medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (silver in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, bronze in the women’s 4x100m medley relay)
- Three gold medals and two medals at the 2017 World Junior Championships (silver in the women’s 200m individual medley, bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle)
- Two bronze medals at the 2019 Gwangju World Championships (women’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays)
- Two silver and two bronze medals at the 2022 World Championships
Jarod Hatch, Swimming
Jarod Hatch was born on December 10, 1998, in Daly City, California, USA. He has Filipino and African American heritage, with his mother being Filipino. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in business.
In 2018, Hatch was first selected for the Philippine national team. In 2019, he won a silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Southeast Asian Games hosted by the Philippines. In 2023, he secured three medals at the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games. In the same year, Hatch broke the Philippine national record in the men’s 100m butterfly at the World Championships and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Career Achievements
- Silver medal in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asian Games
- Two bronze medals and one silver medal at the 2023 Cambodia Southeast Asian Games
- Broke the Philippine national record in the men’s 100m butterfly at the 2023 World Championships
